Welcome back for another Featured Friday blogger spotlight!
We "met" today's featured blogger when she started contributing her delicious-looking recipes to our Recipe Round-Ups. With so many winning recipes from her multiple blogs, we just HAD to get to know her a little better!
After visiting her blog the first time, we immediately felt at home and knew that we had found a new (to us!) gem, though she's been blogging since 2009. You will love the huge selection of goodies there and, if you're anything like us, you'll find yourself visiting often.
In addition to homestyle recipes, she shares everything from her amazing cupcakes (there's a whole newsletter devoted to them!) to decorating ideas to crafty DIY projects. We absolutely love her mission to make YOU the hero of your family, and with her help, there's no way you WON'T be a hero!
So who is this mystery blogger? Say hello to...
We asked Liz to share a little bit about herself, her blogs
and how she got started...keep reading to hear from her!
Tell us about yourself, your family and where you live.
I’m wife to Doug for almost 25 years, Mom to 3 boys {21,18 & 14} and we live in northwest Indiana, where I was born and raised.
I have a passion for baking, cooking and homemaking and love to help women be heroes to their families!
What or who originally inspired you to start blogging?
After following several blogs for a couple years, I wanted to share the recipes and decorating ideas that I had with others. Although many people often come to Hoosier Homemade for cupcakes, I really didn’t start out with a plan to share cupcakes, it just kind of evolved.
As a mom of three with TWO busy blogs, how do you find time to develop new recipes, write and take photos to share?
My boys are older so that does help a lot, I’m not changing diapers and chasing them around, although with their school activities it does keep me hopping. I do work full time, with a typical day being at least 12 hours with most days 18 hrs. I usually take off 1 day a week from cooking, baking and taking pictures for the blogs.
How did you get your start in the kitchen?
My Mom was always in the kitchen, she loved to cook for her family and had a huge yard with a garden.
Quick! You have 30 minutes to put dinner on the table...what do you fix?
Usually a stir-fry, since they are very easy, can be changed with many different veggies and if you have your meat cut up ahead, it’s even quicker. We also love this recipe for Kung Pao Chicken...super easy!
[This recipe is from Liz's other blog, Pocket Change Gourmet, that she writes with her husband...she's one busy lady!]
Care to share your favorite recipe from your blog?
Oh this is a really tough question...there are so many that I love. But if I have to choose just one, I’m nuts for Black Forest...pretty much any dessert with chocolate and cherries. These Black Forest Whoopie Pies are not only delicious, they look like they took forever to make, but are really easy!
Black Forest Whoopie PiesAn amazing dessert that looks like you spent hours. Recipe from HoosierHomemade.com...thanks, Liz!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 box Duncan Hines, Dark Chocolate Fudge or other chocolate
- 1 small box instant chocolate pudding
- 1/2 cup flour {you may need a little more if the cookies are flat}
- 1/3 cup oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
Filling
- 1 tub {8 oz} Cool Whip Whipped Topping - reserve a little for topping
- 1 can Comstock cherries- use juice for filling, reserve cherries for topping
Topping
- Cool Whip
- Cherries
- Duncan Hines Chocolate Glaze
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. In a large bowl, add all cake ingredients, mix well. You may need a little more flour. I baked one tray and they spread a little, so I added a couple more tablespoons of flour. Use a small cookie dough scoop to divide batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Cool completely.
For the filling, fold together about 3/4 of the container of Cool Whip and 2-3 tablespoons of cherry juice. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of filling onto a cookie and top with another cookie. For the topping, fit a decorator bag with a Giant Round Tip and fill with Cool Whip. Pipe on a large dollop of Cool Whip and top with a cherry. Drizzle on Duncan Hines Glaze.
Morning person or night owl?
Definitely morning, by the end of the day I’m exhausted.
Cake or pie?
While I love a delicious cupcake, I would eat a piece of pie anyday. During the Spring and Summer when it’s hot and I don’t want to run the oven, we love this No-Bake Strawberry Pie and for the holidays, definitely Chocolate with Meringue.
If you could design your ideal kitchen, what would be in it?
A very large walk-in pantry with lots of organization, 2 ovens, and spot to hold all my sprinkles and cupcake decorating supplies.
Aside from family and friends, what are 5 things you just can't live without?
- Laughter
- Chai Tea Latte
- Chocolate
- My camera
- Blogging!
If you could spend a whole day (guilt-free!) doing something you love, what would it be?
Browsing antique stores and flea markets looking for dishes and items on which to photograph my food!
Tell us something that no one would guess about you.
I’m very competitive, love sports and coached gymnastics for 25 years.
Well, Liz...in the competition for today's favorite blogger, you're definitely the winner! Thanks for sharing all that you do - the recipes, ideas, giveaways and more - and keep up the great work.
Hop on over to Hoosier Homemade today...we guarantee you'll find some inspiration!
